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Halifax County leads five-county HOME consortium; board adopts HOME grant project ordinance and updated delegation resolution
Summary
The board adopted a revised delegation resolution and the HOME Investment Partnership Program grant project ordinance for a five-county consortium that will distribute HOME funds for affordable housing activities across five counties and 38 municipalities.
The Halifax County Board of Commissioners approved a revised resolution delegating authority to county officials to sign consortium documents and adopted the HOME Investment Partnership Program grant project ordinance on March 10. County staff explained Halifax County serves as the lead entity for a five-county consortium that secured HOME funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Christina Wells, the county’s grant administrator, described the history of the consortium’s formation (initiated in 2021), the selection of the Chowanoke Area Development Association as the CHDO (community housing development organization) and the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments as grant administrator. Wells said the consortium received year-one HOME funding and subsequent allocations; the most recent annual award for the consortium is $632,179.
Wells explained the grant project ordinance follows HUD-approved allocations in the annual action plan and must match categories required by HUD — administration, CHDO set‑aside, CHDO operating funds and project categories (housing development, purchase assistance, owner-occupied rehabilitation). The board voted to adopt both the revised delegation resolution and the grant project ordinance, enabling staff to solicit proposals, vet applications, and enter contracts and grant agreements on behalf of the consortium as authorized by the resolution.
Wells and other staff said the consortium’s funds will be used for grants and projects across the five counties and 38 municipalities, including subrecipient agreements for neighborhood facilities, housing rehabilitation and down‑payment assistance. Staff also said the consortium will post funding availability and vet applications before project approvals are made by the consortium board and HUD where required.
Commissioners were given time to ask about eligible project types (staff said both new construction and rehabilitation can qualify, and that the CHDO and council of governments will provide administrative oversight and reporting to HUD). The resolutions passed by voice vote with no dissent.
